Coronavirus And Business School Admissions

Coronavirus is impacting everyone, and will continue to do so indefinitely. There is a lot to think about for business school applicants and newly admitted students.  Here are a few things to know about coronavirus and business school admissions:

• GMAT and GRE test centers are closing, as are TOEFL and IELTS exam centers. These links can help you keep track, but since the situation is evolving so quickly it’s also a good idea to call for the latest updates.

• Test prep classes are being canceled – think about finding an online option.

• If you are planning school visits over the next several months, there is a strong possibility that campus will be empty. Many schools are moving online for the remainder of the term, and canceling tours and information sessions. Virtual tours are likely to be offered by the schools, although it’s clearly not the same as being there.

• Coffee chats and information sessions that were scheduled to take place off-campus are likely to be postponed until the fall. If schools offer to connect you with local alumni, or to introduce you to community members online, definitely take them up on it.

• Admitted student events are being canceled, and sometimes turned into virtual sessions. This is obviously challenging for students who are trying to decide between offers. It’s still worth participating!

• Admissions decisions might be delayed – but I don’t think so. My best guess is that they will still get released on schedule, over the next few weeks. After all, schools have already made the vast majority of their decisions, and know that delays are likely to hurt their yield.

• Deposit deadlines might be delayed, though – we are already seeing this on the college side.

• Expect more waitlist movement. And possibly slightly larger waitlist pools, as schools try to navigate uncertainty about yield.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and it’s extremely challenging for everyone. As events unfold, I will update this blog.

Karen has more than 12 years of experience evaluating candidates for admission to Dartmouth College and to the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Since founding North Star Admissions Consulting in 2012, she has helped applicants gain admission to the nation’s top schools, including Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Wharton, MIT, Tuck, Columbia, Kellogg, Booth, Haas, Duke, Johnson, Ross, NYU, UNC, UCLA, Georgetown and more. Clients have been awarded more than $47 million dollars in scholarships, and more than 98% have gotten into one of their top choice schools.

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